I first read a Jane Austen novel when I was 14- my grandfather introduced me to Pride and Prejudice, and I never looked back. And as you might expect if you know me, I’ve gone out of my way since to read as many related non-fiction and fiction books as I can. So, there are relatively few books on Austen that I’m not at least familiar with. Cue me being very excited earlier this year to discover this book, and even more excited when I was finally able to read it. This guide to Jane Austen is thorough, funny, smart, and entertaining, and how more people haven’t heard of it, I do not know! For Jane Austen Month, let’s chat about The Friendly Jane Austen by Natalie Tyler.
The Friendly Jane Austen: A Well-Mannered Introduction to a Lady of Sense and Sensibility, Natalie Tyler
Every generation rediscovers Jane Austen with a renewed passion for her timeless stories of romance, family relations, and foibles of human nature. Today she is more popular than ever. Natalie Tyler captures the essence of this enthusiasm in a book that shuns obscure academic approaches and provides lively discussions about every one of Austen’s novels and characters. Readers can experience the highlights of Austen’s early writings, learn about the man who almost won her hand, and puzzle over what on earth she meant by the last line of Persuasion. Tyler includes quizzes, eye-catching illustrations, interviews with Austen scholars and lovers of her work-such as Jane Smiley, T. C. Boyle, and Miss Manners-plus a filmography, a bibliography, and browsable quotes and sidebars to create this wildly entertaining Austen companion.
Why You Should Read This…
This might just be one of my favourite Jane Austen “guides”, and I will be recommending it widely from here on out!
What a brilliant exploration of Austen’s life and novels, and one that is fun and entertaining. Tyler goes in depth into each novel, as well as Austen’s other works and her life, with pieces (1-3 pages, sometimes part of a page) on a theme or element present in the novel, an interview with someone who has studied the novel, a discussion of a modern film adaption, a look at costumes related or locations, the list goes on and on. (I’ve included a photo below as an example!) She has clearly done her own research but also calls upon several scholars who specialise in Austen’s work, making it even more worthwhile. However, that doesn’t make it academic in tone in any way- it is very easy to read!
It is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to get stuck into Austen’s writings, and it’s only true flaw is that it was published in the late 90s, so the sections on movies are missing many adoptions since. (Not the book’s fault- why Penguin didn’t release further editions, I don’t know!) I will say, it is a fun blast from the past to see phone numbers and fax numbers to contact stores or JASNA branches, instead of websites and emails.
This book is PACKED from start to finish, and because there is so much, it takes a while to read. I loved it the whole way through, though!
Want more Jane Austen? Check out Five Authors Who Inspired Jane Austen!
Is The Friendly Jane Austen by Natalie Tyler on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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